Beijing 7-day itinerary

Arrive at Tiananmen Square by 8am. Walk through the Tiananmen Gate into the Forbidden City (¥60, online booking mandatory). The complex is staggering — 980 buildings across 72 hectares. Follow the central axis through the three great halls, then explore the quieter western and eastern courtyards. The imperial garden at the north end is exquisite. Budget 3+ hours.

Climb Jingshan Park (¥10) for the most stunning panoramic view of the Forbidden City's golden rooftops. Then explore the hutong alleys — Nanluoguxiang is the famous one, but the unnamed side alleys east and west hold the authentic charm. Lunch on zhajiangmian (¥15–25) at a local noodle shop. Visit the Drum Tower (¥20) for hutong rooftop panoramas.

Houhai Lake's bar-and-restaurant-lined waterfront is Beijing's liveliest evening spot. Walk along the lake and watch locals swimming in summer or skating in winter. Dinner: Peking duck at Siji Minfu (¥168–238 whole duck). The crispy skin served separately with sugar is an experience. Pancakes, scallions, hoisin, and perfectly carved slices. Non-negotiable Beijing eating.

Bus 877 from Dongzhimen (¥16, 70 min) or shared minivan (¥60–80 round trip) to Mutianyu. Cable car up (¥120 return) or hike 3,500 steps. The wall stretches across forested ridges in both directions — walk east for fewer crowds toward unrestored sections. The scale of this 2,000-year-old fortification against mountain scenery is humbling. Allow 3–4 hours on the wall.

Return to the city and metro to Temple of Heaven (¥34 combined). The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is Beijing's most beautiful building — circular, triple-gabled, painted in blue, green, and gold. The 273-hectare park is where retirees gather to dance, practice martial arts, and sing opera. Their energy is the highlight — join the crowd and watch the spontaneous performances.

Beijing winters demand hot pot. Hai Di Lao is the famous chain (¥100–150/person, free entertainment while queuing). For a more local experience, try instant-boiled mutton (涮羊肉, shuàn yángròu) — the Beijing specialty. Donglaishun near Wangfujing has been serving it since 1903. Paper-thin lamb slices swished in copper hot pots with sesame sauce and pickled garlic is pure Beijing comfort.

Metro to 798 — a decommissioned military factory turned China's most important contemporary art hub. The Bauhaus industrial buildings house 300+ galleries and studios. UCCA Center for Contemporary Art is the flagship (¥80). Outdoor sculptures and murals are free. Allow 2–3 hours. The art ranges from installations to political commentary and the creative energy is palpable.

Metro to Olympic Green. The Bird's Nest (¥50 exterior plaza, ¥80 interior) and Water Cube are iconic 2008 Olympic landmarks. Walk the Olympic Forest Park (free) — an enormous green space with a lake, trails, and wildlife. The park is where Beijingers run, cycle, and picnic. On a clear day, the skyline views from the south end of the park are stunning.

Wudaoying Hutong is the hipster alternative to Nanluoguxiang — independent cafes, design shops, and craft beer bars in traditional courtyard settings. Great Leap Brewing (Beijing's original craft brewery) has a location here with locally-inspired beers like Honey Ma Gold (¥45). Dinner at a hutong courtyard restaurant — dumplings (jiaozi, ¥15–30 per plate) and Beijing-style stir-fries in a traditional setting.

Metro to the Summer Palace (¥60 combined ticket) — 290 hectares of imperial gardens around Kunming Lake. Walk the 728-meter Long Corridor with 14,000 paintings, climb Longevity Hill for panoramas, and take a dragon boat (¥10). Enter through the North Palace Gate for a less crowded experience. The marble boat at the west end is a famous folly built by Empress Dowager Cixi.

Walk through Peking University's campus (Weiming Lake area) — beautiful classical Chinese gardens with a modernist twist. The adjacent Tsinghua University campus has similar charm. Zhongguancun, China's Silicon Valley, is nearby — the electronics markets may interest tech enthusiasts. Lunch at one of the university canteens (surprisingly accessible) for ¥10–20 full meals.

Ghost Street (Guijie, 簋街) is Beijing's most famous food street — over 100 restaurants lit by thousands of red lanterns. The specialty is mala xiaolongxia (spicy crayfish) in season (May–Oct, ¥80–120/kg), but year-round the street offers Sichuan hotpot, barbecue lamb skewers, and malatang (spicy soup). The atmosphere after 9pm is electric — loud, smoky, and irresistibly alive.

Yonghe Lama Temple (¥25) is Beijing's most magnificent Buddhist temple — Tibetan Buddhist monks chant in halls filled with incense smoke and golden Buddhas. The 18-meter sandalwood Buddha carved from a single tree is jaw-dropping. Walk to the Confucius Temple (¥30) next door — serene and intellectual, with ancient stone steles and a cypress tree planted 700 years ago by the philosopher Zhu Xi.

Metro to Maliandao — Beijing's tea wholesale district with hundreds of shops selling every Chinese tea variety. Walk into any shop and they'll offer free tastings — pu'er, jasmine, tieguanyin, longjing. The tasting ritual (gongfu cha) is an experience in itself. Buy quality loose-leaf tea at wholesale prices (¥50–200 per 100g). This is where Beijing's tea professionals shop.

Catch a Peking Opera performance at the Liyuan Theatre in Qianmen (¥180–380) — the dramatic makeup, acrobatic combat, and falsetto singing are unlike any Western theater. English subtitles available. Even a 1-hour excerpt is mesmerizing. After the show, walk through Qianmen Street — a restored historic commercial street with Beijing's oldest shops including the Quanjude duck restaurant (est. 1864).

For adventurous travelers, the Jiankou-to-Mutianyu hike is unforgettable. Arrange a driver or join a hiking group (¥150–200 round trip transport). Jiankou is unrestored "wild wall" — crumbling watchtowers, overgrown steps, and vertigo-inducing ridges without guard rails. The Beijing Knot (three walls meeting) and Sky Stair are iconic. The hike takes 3–4 hours and is genuinely challenging — proper shoes essential.

The hike ends at restored Mutianyu section — a satisfying contrast between wild and maintained wall. Take the toboggan ride down (¥100) for a fun descent through the mountain forest. Lunch at one of the restaurants at the Mutianyu base — the tourist village has decent noodle and dumpling options (¥25–50). The combination of wild and restored wall in one hike is the ultimate Great Wall experience.

After the hike, treat yourself to a foot massage in Beijing (¥80–120 per hour) — your legs will thank you. Then dinner at a dumpling restaurant — Xian'r Lao Man in the hutongs serves excellent handmade dumplings (¥15–30 per plate) with dozens of filling options. The pork-and-fennel and lamb-and-cumin varieties are standouts. Pair with a cold Yanjing beer (¥8) for perfect recovery food.

Panjiayuan (open daily, best on weekends) is Beijing's largest antiques and curios market — jade carvings, Mao memorabilia, Tibetan jewelry, calligraphy brushes, old coins, and propaganda posters. Most items are reproductions but charming and dirt cheap (¥10–100). Haggle aggressively — start at 15–20% of asking price. The weekend market has 4,000+ stalls and is one of Beijing's most exciting experiences.

For quality souvenirs, the National Museum gift shop (free entry, Tiananmen Square) has excellent reproductions. Silk fans and embroidery from Dashilan shopping street near Qianmen. Tea from Maliandao or Zhang Yiyuan (Qianmen, est. 1900) — jasmine tea is Beijing's specialty. Beijing's hutong shops sell hand-painted snuff bottles, papercuts, and traditional crafts.

Your last Beijing meal should be duck. If you haven't tried Da Dong (premium, ¥200+ per person with wine), this is the night. Or revisit Siji Minfu for the reliable classic. Add Beijing-style cold dishes — smashed cucumber with garlic, tofu skin salad, and pickled cabbage. One last walk through the hutong alleys at night — lantern-lit doorways, bicycles leaning against grey walls, and the quiet hum of a city that's been here for 3,000 years.